REP. CALDWELL VOTED FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND CAMPUS CARRY

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHNNY CALDWELL WHO REPRESENTS UPSON, PIKE, AND LAMAR COUNTIES—TOLD ZOOM NEWS OVER THE WEEKEND—HE VOTED FOR TWO CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT AWAIT THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE—THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY BILL AND THE CAMPUS CARRY BILL—FOR GUNS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

CALDWELL SAID THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY BILL IS NEEDED TO PROTECT PASTORS FROM HAVING TO CONDUCT SAME-SEX WEDDINGS AND IT ALSO ALLOWS CHURCHES TO OPT-OUT ON SAME-SEX WEDDINGS.

GEORGIA'S BUSINESS TITANS, SPORTS FRANCHISES, AND HOLLYWOOD OPPOSE IT—CLAIMING IT WILL LEGALIZE DISCRIMINATION IN THE STATE. U.S. SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON SAID MONDAY—RELIGIOUS LIBERTY SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE FEDS.

THE CAMPUS CARRY BILL IS OPPOSED BY OFFICIALS WITH THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND GEORGIA'S CHIEF'S OF POLICE.

HOUSE MEMBER CALDWELL—A FORMER JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR—SAID CAMPUS CARRY WILL LIMIT GUNS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES—NOT ALLOWED IN A DORM OR FRAT HOUSE OR AT A COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME—AND YOU MUST BE AGE 21 WITH A CARRY PERMIT .

ASKED IF THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THE TWO BILLS—CALDWELL WOULD NOT SPECULATE—BUT GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL HAS UNTIL EARLY MAY TO MAKE THE CALL.

CALDWELL TOLD US HE IS WORKING FOR $3 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR A NEW STUDENT CENTER AT GORDON STATE COLLEGE IN BARNESVILLE. HE GOT A MILLION AND A HALF FROM THE HOUSE—BUT THE SENATE PULLED THE PLUG ON THE OTHER HALF—BUT HE'S STILL PUSHING FOR IT.

HE LANDED $5 MILLION FOR RENOVATION OF THE DOROTHY HIGHTOWER LIBRARY ON GORDON'S CAMPUS IN A PREVIOUS SESSION.